Strand annealer



July 6, 1965 Filed April 19, 1962 F. B. POWELL STRAND ANNEALER 21AM AMATTORNEY V 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR FRED B. POWELL July 6, 1965 FiledApril 19, 1962 F. B- POWELL STRAND ANNEALER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGS.

INVENTOR FRED B. POWELL BYW ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,192,649STRAND ANNEALER Fred B. Poweii, Decatur, Ala, assignor, by mesneassignmeets, to Monsanto Company, a corporation of Delaware Fits-d Apr.19, 1962, Ser. No. lflhfiififl 11 Claims. (Cl. 34-155) This inventionrelates to annealers and more particularly to continuous annealers forthermoplastic filaments.

It is well known that chemical fibers must be annealed to impartdesirable characteristics. There are other operations in the textile andother fields where a strand or filament must be annealed or treated witha gaseous medium. In the annealing of chemical filaments the batchprocess is usually used, i.e., a large quantity of the material issealed in a chamber and steam appliedto it. This method is timeconsuming and costly. Annealers have been designed to continuouslyanneal a moving bundle, or tow, of filaments. Most of these have notbeen usable, since the leakage of steam past the tow is almostimpossible to prevent. Seals of various types have been tried, but mostof them do not serve the purpose. With this in mind, one of the objectsof this invention is to provide a novel and improved continuousannealer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a con tinuous annealerhaving an efiicient seal.

A further object of this invention is to provide a continuous annealerhaving a rotating seal.

Still another object is to provide a continuous annealer wherein astrand to be annealed is introduced into an annealing chamber through aseal which divides the chamber into separate parts.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a continuousannealer having a rotating annealing chamber.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a rotating annealingchamber which is divided along a plane perpendicular to the axis ofrotation and which is sealed by flexible flanges.

One embodiment of the present invention contemplates a continuousannealer which includes an annealing chamber made up of a pair ofgenerally cylindrical shells with open, facing ends. The remote ends ofthe shells are closed and are supported for rotation of the shells. Thefacing ends of the shells are provided with generally cylindrical,resilient seals, the seals each having wide flanges extending radiallyinward in engagement with each other. Steam or some other annealingmedium, which is admitted to the chamber through the axis of theshell-supporting shaft, urges the flanges together to completely sealthe chamber. A filament or tow to be annealed is inserted between theflanges from the outside of the chamber at a first point. At a secondpoint, spaced circumferentially from the first point, the inner edges ofthe flanges are separated and the tow is drawn into the chamber wherethe annealing takes place. At a third point, spaced circumferentiallyfrom the second point, the tow is inserted between the flanges from theinside of the chamber. At a fourth point, spaced from the third point,the tow is withdrawn to the outside of the shell. Thus, the tow travelsin and with the moving seal between the first and second points and thethird and fourth points. This completely eliminates leakage from thechamber.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent when the followingdetailed description is read in conjunction with the appended drawings,in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of theinvention with portions cut away to show the general structuralarrangement of the apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the ilfllhfl PatentedJuly 6, 1965 resilient seals showing the manner in which the tow isinserted between the seals;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the seals showing themanner in which the tow is held by the seals between the points wherethe tow is inserted and removed from the seals;

' bodiment of the invention showing inflated seals;

FIGURE 9 is a cross sectional view of still another embodiment of theinvention showing seals of fixed contour whereby the tow feeds itselfinto and out of the seals withoutthe use of inserting or removingdevices; and

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken on line 1i)1l of FIGURE 9 showingthe path followed by the tow along the seal.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, a pair of shells 11 and 12 areshown rotatably mounted on base supports 13, the shells l1 and 12 beingprovided with tubular supports 14 which are rotatably mounted inbearings 15 on the base supports 13. The facing ends of the shells 11and 12 are open, the shells generally having the configuration ofgreatly enlarged cups. These shells make up an annealing chamber.

A tube 20 secured in a base support 21 by a set screw 22 and extendingthrough the tubular support 14 on the shell 11 serves to introduce steamto the chamber for annealing a tow 24. Condensate is withdrawn from thechamber through a tube 25 which extends through the tubular support 14of the shell 12 and which is secured in a base support 26 by a set screw27. Seals 28 secured to the tubes 29 and 25 and engaging the end wallsof the shells 11 and 12 prevent the leakage of steam through the tubularsupports 14. A belt 16 passes over a pulley 17 to drive the chamber.

The opening between the shells 11 and 12 is closed by a pair of flexibleseals 31 and 32 which are generally cylindrical in configuration andwhich are bonded to the shells 11 and 12, respectively. The seals 31 and32 are provided with wide flanges 33 and 34, respectively, which extendradially inward, the flanges 33 and 34 engaging each other in aface-to-face relationship to completely seal the chamber against leakagetherefrom. The pressure of the steam in the chamber holds the flanges 33and 34 together.

The tow 24 to be annealed is introduced into the chamber between theseals 31 and 32. The tow 24 passes through a tapered tubular guide orinserter 39 attached to the base or frame of the machine (the physicalconnection is not shown) to a point about midway between the inner edgesof the flanges 33 and 34 and the junction of the flanges with thecylindrical shells 11 and 12. Henceforth, this midway point will bereferred to as the center or central point of the flanges 33 and 34.

Inasmuch as the chamber is rotating, the tow 24 leaves the inserter ortube 39 and travels along a path 43 (FIG- URE l) to a tapered, tubularguide or extractor 44 which extends from the inner edges of the flanges33 and 34 and guides the tow 24 into the chamber. FIGURE 3 best showsthe manner in which the tow 24 is carried from the inserter 39 to theextractor 44. From this view it is obvious that there is no leakagebetween the seals 31 and 32.

From the guide 44 the tow 24 travels along a path through the chambercompletely exposed to the steam in the chamber. The tow 24 passes alonga chord of the circle defined by the inner edges of the flanges 33 and34 and enters another guide or inserter 45 which inserts the tow betweenthe flanges 33 and 34 to the center thereof. The guides 44 and 45 aremounted on rods 43 and 49, respectively, attached to the end of thesteam inlet tube 20.

The tow leaves the tip of the guide 45 and passes along a path 46 to asecond .extractor or guide 47 mounted on the base of the machine and iswithdrawn through this guide and advanced to a takeup mechanism (notshown) of a well known type.

Inasmuch as the flanges 33 and 34 are moving and firmly hold the tow,there is very little resistance to the passage of the tow through theannealer even at high rates of speed. FIGURE 4 shows the path taken bythe tow 24 through the apparatus. quired, the tow may be wound back andforth on rolls '(not shown) in the chamber, rather than passing more orless. directly from the guide 44 to the guide 45. To provide forshrinkage or elongation of the tow in the chamber the guides 45 and 47may be otfset from the center of the flanges 33 and 34.

FIGURES -7 show ditferent arrangements which may be used to insert orremove the tow from the seals 33 If a longer dwell time is reand 34, theembodiment of FIGURE 5 being that shown in FIGURE 1.

In FIGURE 6, tapered rolls 54 and 55 are used to spread the flanges 33and 34 to insert the tow 24 therebetween. In using these rolls, theproblem of friction between the tow inserting guide and the seals iseliminated.

In the embodiment disclosed in FIGURE 7, a grooved pulley 56 is used toinsert the tow 24 between the flanges 33 and 34, the pulley beingprovided with 'a peripheral groove 57 through which the tow passes. Inthe event that it is desirable to operate the chamber under a vacuum theseals 33 and 34 will be mounted to extend radially outward from theseals 31 and 32, rather than inwardiy as shown.

FIGURE 8 discloses a second embodiment of the invention wherein shells60 and 61 are provided with seals 62 and 63 having inflated flanges 66and 67, these flanges having air chambers 68 and 69, respectively. Theabovedescribed guides and supporting structure are used with thisapparatus. The apparatus of this embodiment is considered to be moredesirable when lower steam pressures are used. 7

FIGURE 9. In this embodiment a different type of seal is used, so thatthe guides of the first two embodiments can be dispersed with, the tow24 being fed into and out of the chamber by rotation of the chamber. Apair of shells 73 and 74 are canted or inclined as illustrated in FIGURE9. Steam is fed into the chamber through the support 75, while thecondensate is withdrawn through the support 76 in the manner describedin connection with the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1.

The chamber is sealed by a pair of seals 79 and Stl having generallyhemispherical configurations. The larger ends or sides of the seals 79and 80 are bonded to the shells 73 and 74 as illustrated in FIGURE 9,the smaller ends or sides of the seals abutting each other as shown. Thesmaller ends or sides of the seals 79 and 8d are provided with centralopenings through which the tow passes into the chamber.

Each of the seals 79 and St is fairly stiff so that almost all of theflexing of the seal takes place on a line extendring around the sealadjacent to the shell to which the seal is secured. This is illustratedin FIGUREQ. The seals 79 and 80 each are generally arcuate in a crosssection taken from the shell to the central hole in the seal, thisportion of the seal having a predetermined radius of curvature. Thisradius of curvature is substantially the same at all radial crosssections taken around the seal,

since almost all of the flexing of the seal takes place at the pointwhere the seal joins the shell. This fact perrnits the elimination ofthe guides used in other embodiments of the invention.

The line 82 (FIGURE 10) along the seals illustrates the path followed bythe tow. At the point where the tow first engages the seal, this line orpath is outside the chamber and fully exposed to engage the tow. A guide(not shown) is used to direct the tow 24 onto the line or path 82. Asthe chamber is rotated, the line or path 82 passes to the inside of thechamber, since the shells are inclined relative to each other. It willbe noted that the lower portion of the line or path 82 defines a circleconcentric with the axes of the tubular supports '75 and 76 and theshells 73 and 74. The tow passes across a chord of the circle defined bythe line of contact of the seals and then moves back .to the outside ofthe chamber as the chamber is turned further. Thus, no guides areneeded. Thick layers 83 and 84 of soft rubber cover the seals '79 and 89to prevent steam leakage as the tow passes into and out of the chamber.

The circle 86 in FIGURE 10 represents the line of contact of the seals79 and St). The area inside the circle 86 is exposed to the steam in thechamber, while the area outside the line 86 is open to the outside ofthe chamber. In actual practice the line 85 will be a band of contactrather than a line of contact, since the soft rubber layers 83 and 84will be engaged to widen the line of contact of the seals.

It will be noted that the line of contact 86 defines a circle which iseccentric to the axis of rotation of the shells 73 and 74, the lines 82and 86 intersecting each other at points 89 and 99. Since the areainside the circle defined by the line 86 is exposed to the steam in thechamber, the tow will be exposed to the steam as it moves from the point89 to the point d0.

The tow 24 is fed into the junction of the seals 79 and at point 87, thepoint 87 lying outside the line of contact 86. It can be readily seenthat, as the chamber rotates, the line of contact 86 moves outward pastthe line 82 on which the tow lies until the line or band of contact iscompletely outside the line 82. At this point the tow is exposed to thesteam in the chamber. The tow remains exposed to thesteam until, uponfurther rotation of the chamber, the line 82 representing the'tow pathis again outside the band of contact 86.

This invention provides a continuous annealer which is fast, efficientand virtually leak-proof. Strands and A third embodiment of theinvention is disclosed in i filaments other than tow can be readilyannfialed treated by steam or other gases in this apparatus.

It is to be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein merelyillustrate the invention and that numerous other embodiments can becontemplated which will fall within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for treating a strand, comprising a pair of rotatableshells positioned in facing relationship and which shells are opencentrally thereof defining an annealing chamber, a pair of seals securedto the shells having radially extended contiguous flanges, and means forrotating the shells, and means adjacent to the seals for guiding thestrand between said seals into and out of said chamber formed by theshells.

2. An apparatus for treating a strand, comprising a base, a pair ofshells rotatably mounted on the base in facing relationship, a pair ofseals secured to the shells and having radially-extended contiguousflanges, means connected to the shells for rotating said shells, firstguide means adjacent to the flanges for inserting a strand between saidfianges, and second guide means spaced from the first guide means forremoving the strand from the, flanges.

3. An apparatus for treating a strand, comprising a base, a pair ofshells mounted on the base in facing rela tionship and which shells areopen centrally thereof defining an annealing chamber, said shells beingmounted for rotation about axes positioned at angles to each other, apair of generally hemispherical seals secured to the shells and inengagement with each other, and means adjacent to the seals for guidingthe strand between the seals into and out of said chamber formed by theshells.

4. Apparatus for treating a strand; comprising a base; a pair of shellsrotatably mounted on the base in facing relationship and which shellsare open centrally thereof defining an annealing chamber; a pair ofseals secured to the shells in engagement with each other along a lineof contact, said seals having centr-al openings therein; means forrotating the shells; said shells being inclined to each other so thatsaid line of contact defines -a circle eccentric to the axis of rotationof said shells, and means adjacent to the seals for guiding the strandbetween said seals into and out of said chamber formed by the shells.

5. An apparatus for treating a strand; comprising a base; a pair ofshells rotatably mounted on the base in facing relationship; a pair offlexible, generally hemispherical seals secured to the shells inengagement with each other along a line of contact defining generally acircle; said seals having central openings; means for rotating theshells; and means for directing a strand into the nip of the seals sothat said strand travels along a generally circular path concentric withthe axes of rotation of the shells; said shells being positioned atangles to each other so that said circle of contact intersects saidcircular path.

6. An apparatus for treating a tow; comprising a base; a pair of shellsrotatably mounted on the base in facing relationship; a pair of flexiblegenerally-hemispherical seals secured to the shells in engagement witheach other along a line of contact defining generally a circle; saidseals having central openings therein; means for rotating the shells;means for directing the tow into the nip of the seals so that said towtravels along a generally circular path concentric with the axes ofrotation of the shells; said axes being positioned at angles to eachother so that said circle of contact intersects said circular path; andmeans for introducing a treating medium into the shells.

7. An apparatus for treating a strand; comprising a base, a pair ofshells rotatably mounted on the base in facing relationship and havingflexible flanges extending radially inward in engagement with eachother, means on the base for rotating the shells, a first guidepositioned adjacent to the flanges for directing a strand into aposition between said flanges, a second guide mounted inside the shellsand spaced peripherally from the first guide for withdrawing the strandinto the chamber formed by the shells, a third guide mounted inside theshell at a point spaced from the second guide for directing the strandfrom the chamber into a position between said flanges, a fourth guidemounted outside the chamber at a point spaced peripherally from thethird guide for withdrawing the strand from said flanges, and means forintroducing a treating medium into the chamber.

8. An apparatus for annealing a tow, comprising a base, a pair of shellsrotatably mounted on the base in facing relationship to form a chamber,a pair of seals secured to the shells and having resilient flangesextending radially inward in engagement with each other, means forrotating the shells around an axis extending through the shells, and apair of tapered rolls mounted in engagement with each other andextending into a position between the flanges for separating saidflanges for the introduction of the tow into a position between theflanges.

9. An apparatus for annealing a tow, comprising a base, a pair of shellsrotatably mounted on the base in facing relationship to form a chamber,means on the base for rotating the shells around an axis extendingthrough the shells, a pair of seals secured to the shells and havingresilient flanges extending radially inward in engagement with eachother for sealing the chamber, and a roll mounted on the base and havinga portion thereof extending into a position between the flanges, saidroll having a groove in the periphery thereof for carrying the tow intoa position between said flanges.

10. An apparatus for annealing a tow, comprising a base, a pair ofshells positioned in facing relationship and having secured on theremote ends thereof tubular support members, means on the base engagingsaid tubular support members for rotatably supporting the shells, a pairof seals secured to the shells and having flexible flanges extendingradially inward in engagement with each other, a first tube mounted onthe base and extending through one of said tubular support members fordirecting steam into the chamber formed by the shells, a second tubemounted on the base and extending through the other tubular supportmember and into said chamber for withdrawing condensate therefrom, afirst guide positioned adjacent to the flanges for directing a tow intoa position between said flanges, a second guide mounted inside thechamber and spaced peripherally from the first guide for withdrawing thetow from said position between said flanges and directing said tow intosaid chamber, a third guide mounted inside the chamber at a locationspaced peripherally from the second guide for directing the tow from thechamber into a position between the flanges, a fourth guide mountedadjacent to the flanges at a location spaced from the third guide forwithdrawing the tow from said position between said flanges, and meansfor rotating the shells.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,102,662 7/14Hobbs -34-129 2,974,512 3/61 Carter 34-l55 3,018,514- 1/62 Salgado.3,084,448 4/63 Dungler 34155 FOREIGN PATENTS 525,085 4/55 Italy.

NORMAN YUDKOFF, Primary Examiner.

2. AN APPARATUS FOR TREATING A STRAND, COMPRISING A BASE, A PAIR OFSHELLS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE BASE IN FACING RELATIONSHIP, A PAIR OFSEALS SECURED TO THE SHELLS AND HAVING RADIALL-EXTENDED CONTIGUOUSFLANGES, MEANS CONNECTED TO THE SHELLS FOR ROTATING SAID SHELLS, FIRSTGUIDE MEANS ADJACENT TO THE FLANGES FOR INSERTING A STRAND BETWEEN SAIDFLANGES, AND SECOND GUIDE MEANS SPACED FROM THE FIRST GUIDE MEANS FORREMOVING THE STRAND FROM THE FLANGES.